New Trends in Venezuela Raise Awareness of Breast-Feeding Benefits

June 21, 2013

As one country contemplates a ban on baby bottles and the advertising of infant formula, in an effort to promote breast-feeding, Dr. Richard Klein (Director of Michigan Head & Neck Institute) discusses the problems infants can have later in life if strictly bottle-fed, although he believes the decision should be up to the mother.

Warren, MI (PRWEB) June 21, 2013

A hot topic in the news right now involves the Venezuelan government and their attempt to ban the use of baby bottles and the advertising of formula to encourage more breast-feeding.

While that is an extreme measure to reach their objective, there are more reasons than initially revealed which can explain why breast-feeding can be very beneficial to an infant.

These are integral to Dr. Richard Klein’s teaching lectures to medical students at Michigan State Osteopathic Medical School and to residents at Henry Ford and St. John Hospitals.

“Breast feeding has more to do with natural growth and development than is commonly understood,” informs Dr. Klein. “Over forty years ago, doctors discovered that suckling on a store-bottle nipple places the mandible and the tongue in abnormal positioning and quite commonly alterations in facial anatomy that are not genetically caused can result during growth and development.”

The propensity for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is significantly higher in those bottle-babies or even mouth-breathing infants when a long face, high deep palate with diminished airway exists. A retrognathic mandible also increases chances for the existence of otalgia, ear congestion, subjective hearing loss or Phonophobia due to Temporomandibular Disorder (commonly called TMJ).

“If Venezuela is attempting to increase the number of mothers who breast feed, then they are on the right track, but might be going about it in an extreme manner,” says Dr. Klein.